Image forming apparatus, image forming system and storage medium

Abstract

To quickly execute a preparation operation of an image formation part for forming an image on a recorded medium, compared to the case in which a preceding command is described in a printer job language.SOLUTION: An MFP(1) includes: an image formation part (4) for forming an image on a sheet (S1); a USB interface (12) which is USB-connected to a PC (101) and receives a preceding command described so as to instruct a preparation operation of the image formation part (4) by a protocol of control transfer that is a USB connection transfer method; and a CPU (91) for executing the preparation operation of the image formation part (4) in response to reception of the preceding command by the USB interface (12).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology has been proposed for shortening the time from when a print command is issued to when the trailing edge of the first sheet is discharged in an image forming device, that is, the so-called first print time. For example, a system has been proposed in which a device issuing a print command transmits a preceding command instructing a print preparation operation to an image forming device prior to transmitting print data, so that the image forming device starts the print preparation operation according to the preceding command before receiving the print data. The print preparation operation is, for example, a temperature increase operation of a heater in a fixing unit.

[0003] The print data supply device of Patent Document 1 starts a warm-up process on a printer device in a power saving mode before spooling the print data of a print job. The print data supply device also generates startup data for putting the printer device into a printable state, spools the data as a print job separate from the print data, and transmits the data to the printer device in advance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-150761 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When an external terminal transmits a preceding command to an image forming device prior to print data, the preceding command is written in a printer job language (PJL). When the image forming device analyzes the printer job language transmitted from the external terminal, it takes time to recognize that the printer job language is a preceding command. For this reason, it takes time for the image forming device to recognize that the printer job language is a preceding command and start executing a print preparation operation.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to execute preparatory operations of an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium earlier than when the preceding command is written in a printer job language. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a receiving unit that is connected to an external terminal via USB and receives a preceding command written to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit using a control transfer protocol, which is a transfer method for USB connections, and a control unit that executes the preparatory operation of the image forming unit in response to receipt of the preceding command by the receiving unit.

[0008] The image forming device receives a preceding command written in a control transfer protocol to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit. The data size of the preceding command written in the control transfer protocol is smaller than the data size of the preceding command written in a printer job language. Therefore, the image forming device can recognize the preceding command more quickly than if the preceding command was written in the printer job language, and can execute the preparatory operation of the image forming unit more quickly.

[0009] The control unit may execute an analysis process to analyze received data sent from the external terminal and written in Printer Job Language (PJL) in a bulk OUT transfer, and if the analyzed received data is print data, may execute an image formation operation using the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on a recording medium, and if the analyzed received data is not print data, may execute processing in accordance with PJL commands, which are commands written in Printer Job Language, included in the received data.

[0010] The image forming device can execute image forming operations by analyzing received data described in the printer job language in a bulk OUT transfer, and can also execute processing in accordance with PJL commands.

[0011] The image forming unit may have a heater and a fixing unit that uses the heater to heat the recording medium on which an image has been formed, and the preceding command may include a heater drive command that instructs the heater to be driven as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit.

[0012] The image forming apparatus can recognize the preceding command more quickly and can execute the heater drive operation as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit more quickly than if the preceding command was written in a printer job language.

[0013] The image forming unit may include a photosensitive member, a polygon mirror for deflecting a light beam in a direction toward the photosensitive member, and a polygon motor for rotating the polygon mirror, and the preceding command may include a motor drive command that instructs the driving operation of the polygon motor as a preparatory operation of the image forming unit.

[0014] The image forming apparatus can recognize the preceding command more quickly and can execute the drive operation of the polygon motor as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit more quickly than if the preceding command was written in a printer job language.

[0015] An image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming device and an external terminal, wherein the image forming device comprises an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a receiving unit that is connected to the external terminal via USB and receives a preceding command written to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit using a control transfer protocol, which is a transfer method for USB connections, and a control unit that executes the preparatory operation of the image forming unit in response to receiving the preceding command by the receiving unit, and when the external terminal receives a print instruction, it transmits the preceding command to the image forming device.

[0016] A storage medium according to one aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling the image forming system, and may store a program for causing the external terminal to execute a step of transmitting the preceding command to the image forming device. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, a preparatory operation of an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium can be executed earlier than when the preceding command is written in a printer job language. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an MFP and a PC in an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram for explaining, in a time chart, the flow of processing in the image forming system shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of data transmission processing of the PC shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of data reception processing in the MFP shown in FIG. [Figure 6]6 is a flowchart showing the process flow of USB reception in step S14 shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart showing the process of analyzing received data in step S37 shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of image formation control of the MFP shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an MFP according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of image formation control of the MFP shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] [Embodiment 1] <Configuration of Image Forming System 100> Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 1 and a PC 101 of an image forming system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system 100 is a system including an MFP 1 and a PC (Personal Computer) 101. The PC 101 is an example of an external terminal. In addition to the PC 101, the external terminal may be, for example, a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet.

[0020] The MFP1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an example of an image forming device that forms an image on a sheet S1 such as a recording paper or an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet. The MFP1 is a laser printer that forms a single-color developer image on the sheet S1, but is not limited to this. For example, the MFP1 may be a laser printer that forms developer images of multiple colors on the sheet S1. The sheet S1 is an example of a recording medium. For convenience of explanation, the up-down direction and the front-rear direction of the MFP1 are defined below as shown by the arrows in Figure 2.

[0021] 1 and 2, the MFP 1 includes a main body housing 2, a sheet supply unit 3, an image forming unit 4, discharge rollers 5, a discharge tray 6, an operation panel unit 7, a display unit 8, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 9, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 12, a buffer 12B, and a LAN (Local Area Network) interface 13. The main body housing 2 houses the above-mentioned units.

[0022] The sheet supply unit 3 feeds out the sheet S1. The sheet supply unit 3 includes a tray 31, a feed roller 32, a sheet pressing plate 33, a transport roller 34, and a registration roller 35. The tray 31 is a sheet tray that stores the sheet S1. The feed roller 32 is a feed roller that feeds out the sheet S1 stored in the tray 31.

[0023] When the sheet S1 is sent out, the sheet S1 on the tray 31 is brought to the feed roller 32 by the sheet pressing plate 33, and is fed to the conveying roller 34 as the feed roller 32 rotates. The conveying roller 34 conveys the sheet S1 toward the registration roller 35. The registration roller 35 aligns the position of the leading edge of the sheet S1, and then conveys the sheet S1 toward the image forming unit 4.

[0024] The image forming unit 4 forms an image on the sheet S1 sent out by the sheet supply unit 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the image forming unit 4 includes an exposure unit 41, a transfer unit 42, a charging unit 43, a developing unit 44, a fixing unit 45, and a photoconductor 46. The exposure unit 41 includes a laser light source (not shown), a polygon mirror 41G, a scanning lens 41L, a polygon motor 41M, and a reflecting mirror 41R.

[0025] The polygon mirror 41G is a rotating polygonal mirror having six reflecting surfaces on the side surfaces of a regular hexagonal prism. The polygon mirror 41G is for deflecting the light beam L1 emitted from the laser light source in a direction toward the photoconductor 46. The polygon motor 41M rotates the polygon mirror 41G. The motor driver 41D of FIG. 1 provided in the exposure unit 41 drives the polygon motor 41M.

[0026] The exposure unit 41 deflects the light beam L1 by a polygon mirror 41G, and emits the light beam L1 from the polygon mirror 41G to the surface of the photoconductor 46 via a scanning lens 41L and a reflecting mirror 41R. The exposure unit 41 scans and exposes the surface of the photoconductor 46 with the light beam L1. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 46. The polygon motor 41M is a brushless DC motor.

[0027] The transfer unit 42 is a transfer roller that sandwiches the sheet S1 between itself and the photoconductor 46. The charging unit 43 is a scorotron type charger having a charging wire and a grid portion (not shown). A charging voltage is applied to the charging wire by a high voltage generating circuit (not shown), and a grid voltage is applied to the grid portion, generating a corona discharge, and the surface of the photoconductor 46 is uniformly charged. The developing unit 44 includes a developing roller 44R and a developer container 44A.

[0028] In the image forming unit 4, after the surface of the photoconductor 46 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 43, an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formed on the photoconductor 46 by the light beam L1 from the exposure unit 41. In addition, the developing roller 44R supplies the developer in the developer container 44A to the photoconductor 46 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed. This makes the electrostatic latent image visible, and a developer image is formed on the photoconductor 46. Thereafter, the sheet S1 supplied from the sheet supply unit 3 is transported to a transfer position between the photoconductor 46 and the transfer unit 42, and the developer image formed on the photoconductor 46 is transferred onto the sheet S1.

[0029] The sheet S1 onto which the developer image has been transferred is transported to the fixing section 45 by the photoconductor 46 and the transfer section 42. The fixing section 45 thermally fixes the developer image on the sheet S1 transported from the photoconductor 46 and the transfer section 42. The fixing section 45 includes a heating roller 45HR, a pressure roller 45PR, and a heater 45H. The fixing section 45 heats the sheet S1 on which the image has been formed, using the heater 45H.

[0030] The heating roller 45HR heats the sheet S1. The pressure roller 45PR sandwiches the sheet S1 between the heating roller 45HR and the pressure roller 45PR. Inside the heating roller 45HR, a heater 45H is disposed for increasing the temperature of the heating roller 45HR. The heater 45H is, for example, a halogen lamp. In the fixing section 45, the sheet S1 on which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed between the heating roller 45HR and the pressure roller 45PR, whereby the developer image is thermally fixed onto the sheet S1. The sheet S1 on which the developer image has been thermally fixed is discharged onto a discharge tray 6 by discharge rollers 5.

[0031] 1, the ASIC 9 includes a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit) 91 as an example of a control unit. The ASIC 9 is electrically connected to the motor driver 41D, the transfer unit 42, the charging unit 43, the developing unit 44, the fixing unit 45, the operation panel unit 7, the display unit 8, the ROM 10, the RAM 11, the USB interface 12, and the LAN interface 13.

[0032] The CPU 91 executes overall control over each section of the MFP 1. The ROM 10 stores various control programs and various settings for controlling the MFP 1. The RAM 11 includes a buffer 11B and a page memory 11M. The buffer 11B temporarily stores data received from the PC 101. The page memory 11M stores raster data generated by the CPU 91 from print data.

[0033] The print data is data that represents the contents of the image formation to be executed by the MFP 1. The print data includes, for example, PDF data that uses a file format called PDF (Portable Document Format). In PDF data, images are described according to a page description language based on PostScript (registered trademark), and a number of operators related to drawing of character strings, figures, images, etc. are arranged in the processing order.

[0034] The USB interface 12 is an example of a receiving unit, and a USB cable is connected to the USB interface 12. The USB interface 12 is USB-connected to the USB interface 102 of the PC 101 so as to be able to communicate with it. The CPU 91 can receive data transmitted from the USB interface 102 of the PC 101 via the USB cable. The USB interface 12 includes a buffer 12B. The USB interface 12 receives data from the USB interface 102 of the PC 101. The data received by the USB interface 12 is temporarily stored in the buffer 12B.

[0035] A LAN cable is connected to the LAN interface 13. The CPU 91 can receive data transmitted from the LAN interface 103 of the PC 101 via the LAN cable. The data received by the LAN interface 13 is stored in the buffer 11B.

[0036] The CPU 91 may receive data from the PC 101 using a wireless LAN. In this case, the CPU 91 receives data from the PC 101 via the wireless LAN through the LAN interface 13. The operation panel unit 7 accepts operations by the user, and transmits the contents of the operations accepted from the user to the CPU 91. The display unit 8 displays the processing contents of the MFP1.

[0037] <Processing of Image Forming System 100> Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining, by a time chart, the process flow of the image forming system 100 shown in Fig. 1. Reference numeral 201 in Fig. 3 indicates the process flow of the conventional image forming system, and reference numeral 202 in Fig. 3 indicates the process flow of the image forming system 100 shown in Fig. 1. Here, first, the process flow of the conventional image forming system will be explained.

[0038] As indicated by reference numeral 201 in Fig. 3, in a conventional image forming system, a PC 203 transmits a PJL command, which is a command written in Printer Job Language (PJL), to an MFP 204 as a preceding command. The preceding command is written to instruct a preparatory operation of an image forming unit. When the MFP 204 receives the PJL command from the PC 203, it analyzes the PJL command. When the MFP 204 completes the analysis of the PJL command, it recognizes that the PJL command is a preceding command and executes the preparatory operation of the image forming unit.

[0039] Meanwhile, as indicated by reference numeral 202 in Fig. 3, in image forming system 100 according to one aspect of the present invention, PC 101 transmits to MFP 1 a preceding command written in a control transfer protocol, which is one of the transfer methods for USB connection. Hereinafter, the preceding command will be described as being transmitted by PC 101 to MFP 1 prior to transmission of print data, and described so as to instruct a preparatory operation for image forming unit 4. Upon receiving the preceding command from PC 101, MFP 1 analyzes the preceding command. Thereafter, as in a conventional image forming system, MFP 1 executes a preparatory operation for image forming unit 4.

[0040] The data size of the preceding command described by the control transfer protocol is smaller than the data size of the PJL command. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the MFP1 can complete the analysis of the preceding command faster than when receiving the PJL command in the conventional MFP204. The preceding command described by the control transfer protocol is stored in the buffer 12B of the USB interface 12, and the CPU 91 analyzes the preceding command stored in the buffer 12B. Since the buffer 12B of the USB interface 12 is upstream of the RAM 11, the CPU 91 can analyze the preceding command faster than when storing the preceding command in the buffer 11B of the RAM 11.

[0041] Note that in reference numeral 202 in FIG. 3, a part of the step numbers shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIG. 8 is shown. Hereinafter, the processing of the image forming system 100 according to an aspect of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0042] <Data transmission process of PC101> FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the data transmission process of the PC101 shown in FIG. 1. Note that the time chart shown by reference numeral 202 in FIG. 3 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 are examples and are not limited thereto.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the PC101 waits until the print start button is pressed by the user's operation (NO in S1). When the print start button is pressed by the user's operation (YES in S1), the PC101 receives the print instruction by the user's operation and determines whether to transmit a preceding command from the USB interface 102 (S2).

[0044] Consider a case where PC 101 determines to transmit the preceding command from USB interface 102 (YES in S2). There are various methods for exchanging commands in the control transfer of a USB connection, called a standard request, a class request, and a vendor request. In this case, PC 101 describes the preceding command in the vendor request of the control transfer, and transmits the vendor request from USB interface 102 to USB interface 12 of MFP 1 by control transfer (S3). The preceding command transmitted from USB interface 102 to USB interface 12 in step S3 is described in accordance with the control transfer protocol.

[0045] On the other hand, consider the case where PC 101 determines not to transmit the preceding command from USB interface 102 (NO in S2). In this case, PC 101 describes the preceding command in a printer job language and transmits the preceding command from LAN interface 103 to LAN interface 13 of MFP1 (S4). Note that in step S4, PC 101 may transmit the preceding command to LAN interface 13 of MFP1 using a wireless LAN.

[0046] After the processing of step S3 or S4, PC 101 starts generating print data (S5). The print data includes print instructions and image data that PC 101 transmits to MFP 1. After starting to generate the print data, PC 101 starts transmitting the print data (S6). At this time, PC 101 transmits the print data from USB interface 102 to USB interface 12 of MFP 1, or transmits the print data from LAN interface 103 to LAN interface 13 of MFP 1.

[0047] The PC 101 determines whether generation and transmission of all print data have been completed (S7). If the PC 101 determines that generation and transmission of all print data have been completed (YES in S7), it ends the data transmission process. If the PC 101 determines that generation and transmission of all print data have not been completed (NO in S7), it continues the process of step S7.

[0048] <Data reception process of MFP 1> FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the data reception process of the MFP 1 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the MFP 1 waits until it receives data from the PC 101 (NO in S11). When the MFP 1 receives data from the PC 101 (YES in S11), it starts storing the received data in buffer 11B or 12B (S12).

[0049] The CPU 91 determines whether the data reception in step S11 is from the USB interface 102 of the PC 101 (S13). Consider the case where the CPU 91 determines that the data reception in step S11 is not from the USB interface 102, that is, it is from the LAN interface 103 (NO in S13). In this case, the CPU 91 stores the data received from the LAN interface 103 at the LAN interface 13 in the buffer 11B of the RAM 11 and executes PJL analysis for analyzing the printer job language of the data described in the buffer 11B (S15). Since PJL analysis is well-known, the description thereof is omitted.

[0050] After the PJL analysis is completed, the CPU 91 determines whether the data for which the PJL analysis was executed is a preceding command (S16). If the CPU 91 determines that the data for which the PJL analysis was executed is a preceding command (YES in S16), it executes the preceding command (S17). After the execution of the preceding command is completed, the CPU 91 ends the data reception process.

[0051] When the CPU 91 determines that the data on which the PJL analysis has been performed is not a preceding command (NO in S16), it determines whether or not the data on which the PJL analysis has been performed is print data (S18).When the CPU 91 determines that the data on which the PJL analysis has been performed is print data (YES in S18), it determines whether or not the print data is data for accumulated printing (S19).

[0052] Accumulation printing refers to printing in which the CPU 91 accumulates print data received from the PC 101 in the buffer 11B of the RAM 11, and when the user logs in to the MFP 1, the accumulated print data of the logged-in user is executed. When the CPU 91 determines that the print data is accumulated printing data (YES in S19), it executes RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing (S20).

[0053] The RIP process includes, for example, an analysis process for sequentially analyzing a plurality of operators of the PDF data, a construction process for sequentially constructing drawing objects such as character strings, figures, images, etc. indicated by the operators by the analysis process in an image space of one page, and a process for writing the image of one page constructed by the construction process as raster data in the page memory 11M. After executing the RIP process, the CPU 91 stores the raster data in the page memory 11M (S21).

[0054] If the CPU 91 determines that the print data is not data for accumulated printing (NO in S19), it recognizes a RIP start command that instructs the start of RIP processing (S22). If the CPU 91 determines that the data on which the PJL analysis has been performed is not print data (NO in S18), it executes PJL processing, which is processing according to PJL commands, which are commands written in a printer job language (S23).

[0055] When the data obtained by executing PJL analysis is not print data, for example, the data obtained by executing PJL analysis is the capability information of MFP1 or the like. In step S23, the PJL process is, for example, a process in which the CPU 91 transmits the capability information of MFP1 or the like to the PC 101 using the USB interface 12 or the LAN interface 13.

[0056] When the CPU 91 determines that the data reception in step S11 is from the USB interface 102 (YES in S13), the CPU 91 executes USB reception processing at the USB interface 12 (S14). The USB reception processing at the USB interface 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0057] <USB Reception Processing> FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the USB reception processing in step S14 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 91 determines the transfer method of the data reception in step S11 (S31).

[0058] When the transfer method determined by the CPU 91 in step S31 is control transfer (YES in S32), the CPU 91 determines whether the data received in step S11 is a vendor request or not (S33). A vendor request is a command described by the protocol of control transfer and is a command that can be defined independently by the vendor.

[0059] In the case of YES in step S32, it means that the USB interface 12 has received a preceding command described by the protocol of control transfer by control transfer. Since MFP1 can recognize the reception of the preceding command earlier by receiving the preceding command at the USB interface 12, MFP1 can recognize the preceding command earlier in step S34 described later.

[0060] When the CPU 91 determines that the data received in step S11 is a vendor request (YES in S33), it recognizes that the preceding command described in the vendor request is a print preparation start command, which is a command instructing a preparatory operation of the image forming unit 4 (S34). Since a vendor request is a command that can be defined independently by a vendor, it is possible for the vendor request to include a preceding command in which a print preparation start command is described.

[0061] The print preparation start command includes content that instructs the start of increasing the temperature of heater 45H of fixing unit 45 and the start of driving polygon motor 41M. In other words, the print preparation start command includes a heater drive command that is a command that instructs the driving operation of heater 45H as a preparatory operation of image forming unit 4. The print preparation start command also includes a motor drive command that is a command that instructs the driving operation of polygon motor 41M as a preparatory operation of image forming unit 4.

[0062] This enables the MFP 1 to recognize the preceding command more quickly and to quickly execute the driving operation of the heater 45H and the driving operation of the polygon motor 41M as preparatory operations for the image forming unit 4, compared to when the preceding command is written in a printer job language.

[0063] When the CPU 91 determines that the data received in step S11 is not a vendor request (NO in S33), it executes processing based on a standard request and a class request by control transfer defined in the USB standard (S35). As processing based on the standard request, the CPU 91 executes processing to obtain the product name and manufacturer name of the MFP 1, and transmit them to the PC 101.

[0064] Furthermore, the CPU 91 executes a process based on the class request to obtain the capability information of the MFP 1 and the current status of the MFP 1 and transmit them to the PC 101. Since the standard request and class request are commands whose definitions are set forth in the USB standard, it is not possible to describe a preceding command in the standard request or class request. For this reason, the preceding command is described in the vendor request.

[0065] If the transfer method determined in step S31 is not the control transfer (NO in S32), the CPU 91 starts storing the data received in step S11 in the buffer 12B (S36). If the transfer method determined in step S31 is not the control transfer, the transfer method becomes the bulk OUT transfer. After starting to store the data received in step S11 in the buffer 12B, the CPU 91 executes a received data analysis process (S37). The received data analysis process will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

[0066] <Analysis of received data> Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of the received data analysis process in step S37 shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 7, the CPU 91 executes an analysis process (S41) to analyze the received data received in bulk OUT transfer in step S11. Hereinafter, the data received from the USB interface 102 of the PC 101 in step S11 and written in the printer job language in bulk OUT transfer will be referred to as the received data.

[0067] If the CPU 91 determines that the received data analyzed in step S41 is print data (YES in S42), it determines whether the print data is data for accumulated printing (S43). If the CPU 91 determines that the print data is data for accumulated printing (YES in S43), it executes RIP processing (S44) as in step S20. After executing RIP processing, the CPU 91 stores the raster data in the page memory 11M as in step S21 (S45).

[0068] When the CPU 91 determines that the print data is not data for accumulated printing, that is, that the print data is data for normal printing (NO in S43), it recognizes a RIP start command (S46) in the same manner as in step S22. Normal printing is an image forming operation in which, when the CPU 91 receives print data from the PC 101, it executes RIP processing from the received print data and forms an image on the sheet S1 using the image forming unit 4.

[0069] If the CPU 91 determines that the received data analyzed in step S41 is not print data (NO in S42), it executes PJL processing according to the PJL command written in the received data, similar to step S23 (S47).

[0070] In this way, the MFP 1 can execute image forming operations by analyzing received data described in the printer job language in a bulk OUT transfer, and can also execute processing in accordance with PJL commands.

[0071] <Image formation control> Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of image formation control of the MFP 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 8, the CPU 91 waits until it recognizes a print preparation start command in step S34 (NO in S51). When the CPU 91 recognizes a print preparation start command in step S34 (YES in S51), it starts increasing the temperature of the heater 45H of the fixing unit 45 (S52).

[0072] Further, the CPU 91 starts driving the polygon motor 41M via the motor driver 41D (S53). In steps S52 and S53, the CPU 91 simultaneously transmits drive signals to the motor driver 41D and the heater 45H. However, this is not limited thereto, and the CPU 91 may transmit drive signals separately to the motor driver 41D and the heater 45H.

[0073] In this manner, the CPU 91 executes the drive operation of the heater 45H and the polygon motor 41M as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit 4 in response to reception of the preceding command described by the control transfer protocol via the USB interface 12.

[0074] Next, the CPU 91 waits until it recognizes a RIP start command in step S22 or S46 (NO in S54). When the CPU 91 recognizes a RIP start command in step S22 or S46 (YES in S54), it starts the RIP process (S55). The CPU 91 converts the print data into raster data by executing the RIP process.

[0075] The CPU 91 stores the raster data in the page memory 11M of the RAM 11 (S56). After storing the raster data in the page memory 11M, the CPU 91 waits until the preparatory operation of the image forming unit 4 is completed (NO in S57). When the CPU 91 determines that the preparatory operation of the image forming unit 4 is completed (YES in S57), the CPU 91 executes an image forming operation to form an image of the print data on the sheet S1 using the image forming unit 4 (S58).

[0076] As a result, the MFP 1 receives a preceding command written in the control transfer protocol to instruct a preparatory operation for the image forming unit 4. The data size of the preceding command written in the control transfer protocol is smaller than the data size of the preceding command written in the printer job language. Therefore, the MFP 1 can recognize the preceding command more quickly and can execute the preparatory operation for the image forming unit 4 more quickly than if the preceding command was written in the printer job language.

[0077] The technical scope of one aspect of the present invention also includes a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling image forming system 100. The storage medium stores a program for causing PC 101 to execute a step of transmitting a preceding command described in a control transfer protocol to MFP 1 by control transfer.

[0078] [Embodiment 2] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, members having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their explanation will not be repeated. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an MFP1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, the MFP1A differs from the MFP1 in that the fixing unit 45 is changed to a fixing unit 50, and in that a transport roller 60 is provided.

[0079] The fixing section 50 includes a spray unit 51 and a collection tray 52. ​​The spray unit 51 is a device that sprays a fixing fluid FL for fixing the developer image formed on the sheet S1 to the sheet S1. The spray unit 51 includes a housing 53, a plurality of nozzles 54, a nozzle electrode 55, and a counter electrode 56.

[0080] Fixing solution FL is contained in the housing 53. The fixing solution FL contained inside the housing 53 is supplied to a plurality of nozzles 54, and a voltage is applied to the fixing solution FL by the nozzle electrodes 55. The fixing solution FL to which a voltage is applied is sprayed from the plurality of nozzles 54 toward the developer image formed on the surface of the sheet S1.

[0081] The counter electrode 56 has a plurality of protrusions, and is disposed above the collection tray 52 so as to face the nozzle 54. A voltage is applied to the counter electrode 56. Below the spray unit 51, a collection tray 52 is provided for receiving and storing the fixer FL sprayed from the nozzle 54. The collection tray 52 is formed using an insulating material.

[0082] The conveying rollers 60 are provided downstream of the fixing unit 50 in the conveying direction, and convey the sheet S1 on which the developer image has been formed by the spray unit 51, toward the discharge rollers 5. The sheet S1 conveyed by the conveying rollers 60 is conveyed by the discharge rollers 5 and discharged onto the upper surface of the discharge tray 6.

[0083] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of image formation control of the MFP 1A shown in Fig. 9. Steps S61 to S65, S67 are similar to steps S51, S53 to S56, S58 shown in Fig. 8, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. Note that the flowchart shown in Fig. 10 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0084] Since the MFP 1A does not have a heater 45H, the print preparation start command includes a motor drive command but does not include a heater drive command. Therefore, the CPU 91 does not execute the process of starting to increase the temperature of the heater 45H in step S52. After the process of step S65, the CPU 91 waits until the drive of the polygon motor 41M is completed (NO in S66). If the CPU 91 determines that the drive of the polygon motor 41M is completed (YES in S66), it proceeds to the process of step S67.

[0085] [Software implementation example] The control block of the MFP 1 (particularly the ASIC 9) and the control block of the PC 101 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software.

[0086] In the latter case, the MFP1 and the PC101 are provided with a computer that executes instructions of a program, which is software that realizes each function. This computer is provided with, for example, one or more processors, and also with a computer-readable storage medium that stores the program. In the computer, the processor reads the program from the storage medium and executes it, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. The processor may be, for example, a CPU. The storage medium may be a "non-transient tangible medium," such as a ROM, tape, disk, card, semiconductor memory, programmable logic circuit, or the like. The computer may further include a RAM for expanding the program. The program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (such as a communication network or broadcast waves) that can transmit the program. Note that one aspect of the present invention may also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[0087] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1, 1A MFP (image forming device) 4. Image forming section 12 USB interface (receiver) 41G Polygon mirror 41M Polygon Motor 45, 50 Fixing section 45H Heater 46 Photoreceptor 91 CPU (control unit) 100 Image forming system 101 PC (external terminal) L1 Light beam S1 Sheet (recording medium)

Claims

1. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a USB interface that can be connected to an external terminal via USB and can receive data in a control transfer method and a bulk OUT transfer method; A control unit, The control unit is receiving data from the external terminal using the USB interface; When the data is received, it is determined whether the transfer method of the USB interface is the control transfer or the bulk OUT transfer; When the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and the data is a preceding command described in a vendor request to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit, executing the preparatory operation of the image forming unit; if the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and the data is not the preceding command described in a vendor request, execute processing based on a standard request and a class request by the control transfer; An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the data is data received from the external terminal using the bulk OUT transfer method and is print data described using a printer job language, an image forming operation is performed using the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on a recording medium.

2. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a USB interface that can be connected to an external terminal via USB and can receive data in a control transfer method and a bulk OUT transfer method; A control unit, The control unit is receiving data from the external terminal using the USB interface; When the data is received, it is determined whether the transfer method of the USB interface is the control transfer or the bulk OUT transfer; When the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and is a preceding command written to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit using the control transfer protocol, executing the preparatory operation of the image forming unit; If the data is data received from the external terminal by the transfer method of the bulk OUT transfer, an analysis process is executed to analyze the received data described in a printer job language (PJL) received from the external terminal by the bulk OUT transfer; If the analyzed received data is print data, an image forming operation is performed by the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on a recording medium; When the analyzed received data is not the print data, the image forming apparatus executes a process in accordance with a PJL command, which is a command written in a printer job language and is included in the received data.

3. the image forming unit includes a heater and a fixing unit that uses the heater to heat the recording medium on which the image is formed; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preceding command includes a heater drive command which is a command for instructing a drive operation of the heater as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit.

4. The image forming unit includes: A photoconductor; a polygon mirror for deflecting the light beam toward the photoreceptor; a polygon motor that rotates the polygon mirror; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preceding command includes a motor drive command which is a command for instructing a drive operation of the polygon motor as a preparatory operation for the image forming unit.

5. The image forming apparatus includes an external terminal, The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a USB interface that can be connected to the external terminal via USB and can receive data in a control transfer mode and a bulk OUT transfer mode; A control unit, The control unit is receiving data from the external terminal using the USB interface; When the data is received, it is determined whether the transfer method of the USB interface is the control transfer or the bulk OUT transfer; When the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and the data is a preceding command described in a vendor request to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit, executing the preparatory operation of the image forming unit; if the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and the data is not the preceding command described in a vendor request, execute processing based on a standard request and a class request by the control transfer; When the data is data received from the external terminal using the bulk OUT transfer method and is print data described using a printer job language, an image forming operation is executed by the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on a recording medium; The external terminal includes: an image forming system that, when a print instruction is received, transmits the preceding command to the image forming device, and then transmits the print data to the image forming device.

6. An image forming apparatus and an external terminal, The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a USB interface that can be connected to the external terminal via USB and can receive data in a control transfer mode and a bulk OUT transfer mode; A control unit, The control unit is receiving data from the external terminal using the USB interface; When the data is received, it is determined whether the transfer method of the USB interface is the control transfer or the bulk OUT transfer; When the data is data received from the external terminal by the control transfer transfer method and is a preceding command written to instruct a preparatory operation of the image forming unit using the control transfer protocol, executing the preparatory operation of the image forming unit; If the data is data received from the external terminal by the transfer method of the bulk OUT transfer, an analysis process is executed to analyze the received data described in a printer job language (PJL) received from the external terminal by the bulk OUT transfer; If the analyzed received data is print data, an image forming operation is performed by the image forming unit to form an image of the print data on a recording medium; If the analyzed received data is not the print data, a process is executed according to a PJL command which is a command written in a printer job language and which is described in the received data; The external terminal includes: an image forming system that, when a print instruction is received, transmits the preceding command to the image forming device, and then transmits the print data to the image forming device.

Images